Councilman facing DUI, weapons violation, will ‘continue to serve’

Ward 7 Councilman Charles “C.J.” Donovan Jr. was arrested and charged with a DUI, a misdemeanor, and carrying a weapon while intoxicated, a felony, after an officer pulled him over early Tuesday morning.

In an e-mail to the Warwick Beacon, Donovan expressed his emotions on the issue.

“I unfortunately cannot comment in depth at this time on this situation, as it needs to go through the legal process,” he wrote. “I respect the process and course that it will need to go through and at the proper time I will be happy to comment further. I will continue to serve the people in my role as councilman while this issue is resolved. I want to thank my friends and family for their strong support during this time.”

Donovan, 43, who is serving his seventh term as a council member, was charged with refusing a breathalyzer test for alcohol, as well as additional motor vehicle violations. He is set to appear at the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. for the chemical breath test refusal. A date is yet to be determined for the other offenses.

According to a police report, Officer Jamey Petit observed Donovan’s vehicle straddling lanes and going 56 miles per hour at 12:45 a.m. Tuesday on Jefferson Boulevard. The speed limit is 35 miles per hour.

Upon pulling him over, Petit noted that he “immediately detected the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from [Donovan’s] breath.” He also observed that Donovan’s speech was slurred and his eyes were “extremely bloodshot and watery.”

At that point, Petit asked Donovan for his registration and proof of insurance. Donovan provided proof of registration for the vehicle, however, his insurance card was expired. From there, Petit instructed Donovan to do a series of standardized field sobriety tests. Through the tests, Petit noted, Donovan appeared “sleepy,” “unsteady” and had difficulty maintaining his balance. Based on his performance, Petit determined Donovan was unfit to safely operate a vehicle and cuffed him, placing him in the back of the cruiser.

While there were no passengers in Donovan’s vehicle, Petit found a 9MM Ruger P95 semiautomatic handgun with two magazines on the passenger front floorboard in a black weapons case. The gun was beneath paperwork Donovan removed from his glove box when he was searching for registration paperwork.

The report said the gun was not loaded, yet “was easily assessable to [Donovan] while he was operating the vehicle. The case was not locked and the weapon did not have any safety device such as a trigger lock on it.”

Petit asked Donovan if he had a blue card for the gun and he answered, “I don’t have one on me; it may be at my house.” He told Petit he purchased the gun about six months ago in Johnston but did not name the store. Petit requested a check via the National Crime Information Center, a computerized index of criminal justice information, which “yielded negative results.”

Officer Russell Brown, who arrived on the scene as Donovan was in the middle of the field sobriety tests, ordered Petit to seize the gun as evidence. No drink containers were found in the vehicle.

Donovan, the son of former Warwick Mayor Charles J. Donovan Sr., was arrested about a mile from his home at 346 Potters Avenue and taken to the Warwick Police Department. He was released on bail shortly after.

The DUI is his first violation. Under Rhode Island law, a first offense results in the suspension of a driver’s license or privilege to operate a vehicle for six months to a year. Additionally, a fine of $200 to $600 is to be issued, along with public community service of 10 to 60 hours, as well as a course on driving while intoxicated and/or drug or alcohol treatment. Other penalties and fees may apply.

Donovan is a senior house policy and oversight specialist for the Coastal Resource Management Council, Narragansett Bay Commission, Rhode Island Clean Water Finance Agency and Rhode Island Water Resource Board.

Comments

How can we be comfortable with CJ's decision making capabilities when clearly he had to have had a huge breach in his ability to make cognitive decisions by his intoxication while possessing a gun with no permit to carry. In this era when the entire democratic party is screaming gun control, what does this say for the logic?

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

patientman

Unfortunately, he is the best councilman we have. I hope he proves to his constituents that he deserves a second chance. I'm chronically disappointed with the council, but when I compared him to the people he was running against ( a retired public employee who seemed very nice, but can't be trusted to look out for regular taxpayers, and Al Gemma, who has been targeted by the unions, but he's too in love with himself) last election I had to vote for him. He and one school board member were the only people I voted for that got elected. You can't lay the condition of Warwick or Rhode Island at my feet. ;-)

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

fenceman

Best councilman?? That is very sad considering that he has never authored a resolution that has passed.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

BobbyTownsend

He will get off. Can afford the best lawyers. Way to go councilman.... another one riding on daddy's coat tail. I could never trust you again. GET LOST!!!!

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

richardcorrente

Continue to "serve"? CONTINUE TO SERVE????? No apology? No call for redemption? Are you kidding us???

CJ Donovan is charged with drunk driving, not having mandatory car insurance, speeding, reckless driving, lying to the police officer, and carrying a gun without a permit and he wants to "continue to serve"!??! What the hell is his definition of the word "serve"?

Hey CJ! You arrogant jerk! This is NO WAY to "serve" your constituents. The good people who voted for you deserve an explanation.

What kind of arrogant example does this send to our children?

Donovan NEEDS to explain his actions.

Donovan NEEDS to apologize for his disgusting behavior.

Donovan NEEDS to resign immediately!

Our children deserve a much better role model than an arrogant drunk!

That's Ward 7 "policy"

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Unionthug

He will get off on a technicality.. If he were a al man he would just own up to it. We all make mistakes a real man ownes up to it. He will probably turn it around and blame the cops.

Thursday, July 4, 2013

fenceman

The law for refusing a breathalyzer in R.I. is automatic 6 months suspension of your license. So why yesterday did Donovan only get his license suspended until August 6th. His next court date is July 15th on the felony. Here we go again, another Warwick cover up.

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Greenwood0115

CJ, is a good guy who made a stupid decision, I am pretty sure we ALL have done something stupid in our lives. Its so easy to hide behind the comment board here. Cut the guy a break he is a good man!

Monday, July 8, 2013

Unionthug

We all make mistakes, but REAL men admit their mistakes and don't hide behind the law. If he is a "good guy" than we will see if he actually admits his faults like the rest of us. Ill be the first the "cut the guy a break" if and only if he admits the truth...